When Joanna and John Swanson couldn't find the right house—or table or lamp—the Oregon couple simply created it themselves. For a lot less.

Made From Scratch

Made From Scratch

Ever since she was a little girl, Joanna Swanson had imagined she would one day live in the perfect white farmhouse. Her dream became so detailed that two years ago, when she and her husband, John, decided to buy a home in the country, none of the places they toured measured up for Joanna. Instead of settling for something that fell short of her ideal, she and John purchased a three-quarter-acre plot of land in Bend, Oregon. Then Joanna—armed with zero architectural knowledge, but a lot of gumption—found a blueprint online and altered it to fit her fantasy.

Stools, $70-$85 each:An assortment of old stools provides quirky charm—and seating for all four of the couple's children.

Stairway

Stairway

Keeping budget in mind, Joanna reduced the size of that original floor plan by 200 square feet and sheared the generous master bath in half to provide more space for the couple's children. Daughters Ella, 11, and Liza, 8, share one bedroom, while the boys, Shep, 5, (left) and Ozzy, 2, bunk in another.